Akhilesh Yadav calls for preservation of monuments

Lucknow: Stressing on the need for preservation of historical monuments, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said efforts should be taken for the conservation of ancient buildings, and asked officials to take necessary steps.

Highlighting the massive scope of tourism, Akhilesh said by motivating tourists coming to Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan to come here, tourism could be boosted in the state, and expressed hope that Agra-Lucknow Greenfield Express would help in this direction.

Speaking at a workshop on preservation and revival of historical Chhatar Manzil, Akhilesh said that history offers an opportunity to learn and historical buildings and their architecture tell us about the thinking of previous generations.

Akhilesh said that besides major historical buildings, efforts should also be on conservation of ancient buildings in interior pockets and asked the chief secretary Javed Usmani to make arrangements for budgetary allocation for implementing the recommendations of the experts during this workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, Usmani said efforts were on to hand over the Chhatar Manzil to the Archaeological Department, and following efforts of the present government, the Centre had agreed in 2013 to hand over the building to the State Directorate of Archaeology. He also said that based on the recommendations during the workshop, an action plan will be drawn up for its preservation.

Chattar Manzil was the residential building of the Nawabs of Awadh and witness the revolution of mutiny of 1857.